MCUI(UC) Press Release on Funding for Motorsports Safety : (06/02/2025)
The Motorcycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre) have released a statement on the funding announcement of £187,000 from the NI Governement to improve Motorsports safety.
For immediate release: 06/02/2025
MCUI (UC) Welcomes Announcement of Funding from NI Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with £187,000 Motorsports Safety Investment The Motor Cycle Union of Ireland (Ulster Centre), the Governing Body for Motorcycle Tarmac Racing in Northern Ireland, had the pleasure to attend the press announcement of funding for Motorsports from Northern Ireland’s Department of Communities
Minister Gordon Lyons on Tuesday.
Minister Gordon Lyons announced funding of £187,000 to enable the motorsports sector to benefit from health and safety equipment. This funding for the Governing Bodies has been long overdue and is very much welcomed by the MCUI (UC) and the
clubs that promote motorcycle tarmac racing.
This funding will enable us to obtain much needed safety equipment for our Road Racing events and circuits. Safety bales and Pole
protectors are top of our priority list for items required for the upcoming road racing season.
The “pure road racing” season kicks off at the end of April with the Cookstown 100 and is quickly followed by the NW200. Tandragee 100 returns after five years, the North Armagh club has been working very hard with safety improvements for their event
at the end of June. Armoy “Race of Legend’s is on the last weekend in July.
Minister Lyons said: “Motorsports have always been part of Northern Ireland’s world class sporting legacy, attracting riders and
spectators from across the globe to events such as the North West 200 and other road racing circuits every year”.
Minister Lyons spent time with representatives from the governing bodies to hear more about how the equipment will be used at
events for bikes, cars, karting.
Minister Lyons highlighted the need to provide safer conditions for the youth in sport, saying:
“We have some of the best motorsport talent in the world here in Northern Ireland and local races and circuits are important to develop their careers. While the danger remains present, as it always will at high speeds, this funding, distributed through Sport NI,
will boost rider and driver safety as well as the safety of teams, officials and visitors.”
The MCUI (UC) are proud of our competitors’ achievements now and in the past. Our section of the sport has probably produced more World Champions than any other sport, we definitely punch above our weight with 15 world championships. We are also well represented in British Championships with around 25 competitors in last year’s championship.
The MCUI (UC) season starts on 22d March with a closed event for the new competition licence assessment day.
The Ulster Superbike Championship lifts off on Saturday 5* April at Bishopscourt Racing Circuit, this is the first of a nine-round
championship which will be held at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown racing circuits.
We would like to send our gratitude and thanks to Minister Lyons, NI Department of Communities, all the MLA’s who assisted the
Minister, SportNI and 2&4 Wheel Steering Group.
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